Abstract: We have developed a general protocol for the preparation of hybrid nanostructures formed by nanoparticles (NPs) of molecule-based magnets based on Prussian Blue Analogues (PBAs) decorated with plasmonic Au NPs of different shapes. By adjusting the pH, Au NPs can be attached preferentially along the edges of the PBA or randomly on the surface. The protocol allows tuning the plasmonic properties of the hybrids in the whole visible spectrum.

Abstract: We have investigated the plasma processes in an atmospheric pressure glow discharge (APGD) in He used for analytical spectrometry by means of fluid and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Typical results include the potential and electric field distributions in the plasma, the density profiles of the various plasma species throughout the discharge, the mean electron energy, as well as the rates of the various collision processes in the plasma, and the relative importance of the different production and loss rates for the various species. The similarities and differences with low-pressure glow discharges are discussed. The main differences are a very small cathode dark space region and a large positive column as well as the dominant role of molecular ions. Some characteristic features of the APGD, such as the occurrence of the different spatial zones in the discharge, are illustrated, with links to experimental observations.

Abstract: We have prepared tungsten oxide films decorated with gold particles on Si substrates by aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) and characterized them using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). SEM shows that the films are composed of needle-like structures and TEM shows that both the needles and the gold particles are crystalline. XPS indicates the presence of oxygen vacancies, i.e. the films are WO3−x, and hence the deposited material is composed of semiconducting nanostructures and that the interaction between the gold particles and the WO3 needles surface is weak. The synthesis of semiconducting tungsten oxide nanostructures decorated with metal particles represents an important step towards the development of sensing devices with optimal properties.

Abstract: We illustrate the potential of advanced transmission electron microscopy for the characterization of a new class of soft porous materials: metal@Zn4O(bdc)3 (metal@MOF-5; bdc = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate). By combining several electron microscopy techniques (transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electron diffraction (ED), high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), and electron tomography) and by carefully reducing the electron dose to avoid beam damage, it is possible to simultaneously characterize the MOF-5 framework material and the loaded metal nanoparticles. We also demonstrate that electron tomography can be used to accurately determine the position and distribution of the particles within the MOF-5 framework. To demonstrate the implementation of these microscopy techniques and what kind of results can be expected, measurements on gas-phase-loaded metal−organic framework materials Ru@MOF-5 and Pd@MOF-5 are presented.

Abstract: We investigate the performance of an atmospheric pressure glow discharge (APGD) reactor for CO2 conversion in three different configurations, through experiments and simulations. The first (basic) configuration utilizes the well-known pin-to-plate design, which offers a limited conversion. The second configuration improves the reactor performance by employing a vortex-flow generator. The third, “confined” configuration is a complete redesign of the reactor, which encloses the discharge in a limited volume, significantly surpassing the conversion rate of the other two designs. The plasma properties are investigated using an advanced plasma model.

Abstract: We investigated the deposition of MoS2 multilayers on large area substrates. The pre-deposition of metal or metal oxide with subsequent sulfurization is a promising technique to achieve layered films. We distinguish a different reaction behavior in metal oxide and metallic films and investigate the effect of the temperature, the H2S/H-2 gas mixture composition, and the role of the underlying substrate on the material quality. The results of the experiments suggest a MoS2 growth mechanism consisting of two subsequent process steps. At first, the reaction of the sulfur precursor with the metal or metal oxide occurs, requiring higher temperatures in the case of metallic film compared to metal oxide. At this stage, the basal planes assemble towards the diffusion direction of the reaction educts and products. After the sulfurization reaction, the material recrystallizes and the basal planes rearrange parallel to the substrate to minimize the surface energy. Therefore, substrates with low roughness show basal plane assembly parallel to the substrate. These results indicate that the substrate character has a significant impact on the assembly of low dimensional MoS2 films.

Abstract: We performed molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the effect of lipid peroxidation products on the structural and dynamic properties of the cell membrane. Our simulations predict that the lipid order in a phospholipid bilayer, as a model system for the cell membrane, decreases upon addition of lipid peroxidation products. Eventually, when all phospholipids are oxidized, pore formation can occur. This will allow reactive species, such as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), to enter the cell and cause oxidative damage to intracellular macromolecules, such as DNA or proteins. On the other hand, upon increasing the cholesterol fraction of lipid bilayers, the cell membrane order increases, eventually reaching a certain threshold, from which cholesterol is able to protect the membrane against pore formation. This finding is crucial for cancer treatment by plasma technology, producing a large number of RONS, as well as for other cancer treatment methods that cause an increase in the concentration of extracellular RONS. Indeed, cancer cells contain less cholesterol than their healthy counterparts. Thus, they will be more vulnerable to the consequences of lipid peroxidation, eventually enabling the penetration of RONS into the interior of the cell, giving rise to oxidative stress, inducing pro-apoptotic factors. This provides, for the first time, molecular level insight why plasma can selectively treat cancer cells, while leaving their healthy counterparts undamaged, as is indeed experimentally demonstrated.

Abstract: We present a first-principles computational study of CO and OH adsorption on non-polar ZnO (10¯10) surfaces doped with indium. The calculations were performed using a model ZnO slab. The position of the In dopants was varied from deep bulk-like layers to
the surface layers. It was established that the preferential location of the In atoms is at the surface by examining the dependence of
the defect formation energy as well as the surface energy on In location. The adsorption sites on the surface of ZnO and the energy
of adsorption of CO molecules and OH-species were determined in connection to In doping. It was found that OH has higher
bonding energy to the surface than CO. The presence of In atoms at the surface of ZnO is favorable for CO adsorption, resulting
in an elongation of the C-O bond and in charge transfer to the surface. The effect of CO and OH adsorption on the electronic
and conduction properties of surfaces was assessed. We conclude that In-doped ZnO surfaces should present a higher electronic
response upon adsorption of CO.

Abstract: We present a high-throughput computing scheme based on density functional theory (DFT) to generate a class of oxides and screen them with the aim of identifying those that might be electronically appropriate for transparent conducting oxide (TCO) applications. The screening criteria used are a minimum band gap to ensure sufficient transparency, a band edge alignment consistent with easy n- or p-type dopability, and a minimum thermodynamic phase stability to be experimentally synthesizable. Following this scheme we screened 23 binary and 1518 ternary bixbyite oxides in order to identify promising candidates, which can then be a subject of an in-depth study. The results for the known TCOs are in good agreement with the reported data in the literature. We suggest a list of several new potential TCOs, including both n- and p-type compounds.

Abstract: We present a study of the relation between the surface chemistry and nanocrystal shape of PbSe nanocrystals with a variable Pb-to-Se stoichiometry and density of oleate ligands. The oleate ligand density and binding configuration are monitored by nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared absorbance spectroscopy, allowing us to quantify the number of surface-attached ligands per NC and the nature of the surface−Pb−oleate configuration. The three-dimensional shape of the PbSe nanocrystals is obtained from high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with an atom counting method. We show that the enhanced oleate capping results in a stabilization and extension of the {111} facets, and a crystal shape transformation from a truncated nanocube to a truncated octahedron.

Abstract: We present an epidermal patch for glucose analysis in sweat incorporating for the first time pH and temperature correction according to local dynamic fluctuations in sweat during on-body tests. This sort of correction is indeed the main novelty of the paper, being crucial toward reliable measurements in every sensor based on an enzymatic element whose activity strongly depends on pH and temperature. The results herein reported for corrected glucose detection during on-body measurements are supported by a two-step validation protocol: with the biosensor operating off- and on-bodily, correlating the results with UV-vis spectrometry and/or ion chromatography. Importantly, the wearable device is a flexible skin patch that comprises a microfluidic cell designed with a sweat collection zone coupled to a fluidic channel in where the needed electrodes are placed: glucose biosensor, pH potentiometric electrode and a temperature sensor. The glucose biosensor presents a linear range of response within the expected physiological levels of glucose in sweat (10-200 mu M), and the calibration parameters are dynamically adjusted to any change in pH and temperature during the sport practice by means of a new “correction approach”. In addition, the sensor displays a fast response time, appropriate selectivity, and excellent reversibility. A total of 9 validated on-body tests are presented: the outcomes revealed a great potential of the wearable glucose sensor toward the provision of reliable physiological data linked to individuals during sport activity. In particular, the developed “correction approach” is expected to impact into the next generation of wearable devices that digitalize physiological activities through chemical information in a trustable manner for both sport and healthcare applications.

Abstract: We present an in situ transmission electron microscopy study on the half-doped bilayer manganite PrCa2Mn2O7 to reveal the rotation process of the orbital stripes. Between the reported initial and final ordering phases, we identified an intermediate state with two sets of satellite spots to bridge the 90° rotation of the orbital stripes. Furthermore, we determined that the rotation of the orbital stripes does not always occur. Some restricted conditions for the orbital rotation to occur were found and reasons are discussed.

Abstract: We present the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for accurately determining the adsorption parameters of acetaldehyde on photocatalytic fiber filter material, integrated in a continuous flow system. Unlike the traditional analytical analysis based on Langmuir adsorption, not only steady-state situations but also transient phenomena can be accounted for. Air displacement effects in the reactor and gas detection cell are investigated and inherently made part of the model. Incorporation of a surface aldol condensation reaction in the CFD analysis further improves the accuracy of the model which enables to extract precise, intrinsic adsorption parameters for situations in which analytical analysis would otherwise fail.

Abstract: We report a high-throughput first-principles characterization of the structural, mechanical, electronic, and vibrational properties of tetragonal single-layer transition metal Xenes (t-TMXs). Our calculations revealed 22 dynamically, mechanically and chemically stable structures among the 96 possible free-standing layers present in the t-TMX family. As a fingerprint for their structural identification, we identified four characteristic Raman active phonon modes, namely three in-plane and one out-of-plane optical branches, with various intensities and frequencies depending on the material in question. Spin-polarized electronic calculations demonstrated that anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) metals, ferromagnetic (FM) metals, AFM semiconductors, and non-magnetic semiconductor materials exist within this family, evidencing the potential of t-TMXs for further use in multifunctional heterostructures.

Abstract: We report here the efficacy of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) measurements as a probe for molecular orientation. 4-Aminobenzoic acid (PABA) on a surface consisting of silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) is investigated. We find that the orientation of the PABA molecule on the SERS substrate is estimated based on the relative change in the magnitude of the C-H stretching bands on the SERS substrate, and it is found that the molecule assumes a horizontal orientation on the Ag-NP surface. The strong molecule-metal interaction is determined by an abnormal enhanced SERS band appearing at 980 cm(-1), and the peak is assigned to an out-of-plane amine vibrational mode, which is supported by our ab initio calculations. DFT-based Raman activity calculations corroborate the SERS results, revealing that (i) the PABA molecule attaches to the surface of Ag-NPs with its alpha dimers rather than single-molecule binding and (ii) the molecule preserves its alpha dimers in an aqueous environment. Our results demonstrate that SERS can be used to gain deeper insights into the molecular orientation on metal nanoparticle surfaces.